Protector for an alarm device

ABSTRACT

A protector for a manual alarm device, the protector comprising a shell for affixing to a supporting surface on which the alarm device is mounted. The shell includes a-flat rear surface defining a plane, for abutment with a planar supporting surface, walls extending forwardly from the rear shell surface to form a pocket, left and right side surfaces respectively extending outwardly from the rear shell surface plane and inwardly, upper and lower surfaces extending outwardly from the rear surface plane and inwardly, the rear surface of the shell and the walls forming a pocket, and the pocket rear surface having an aperture therein for receiving the alarm device, wherein the side surfaces slant so as to protect the alarm device from collision, as by a vehicle or person.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. PATENT APPLICATION

This Application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/930,843 filed May 18, 2007 in the name of Edward R. Hevy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to protectors for alarms and switches, typically manually activated and mounted on walls or vertical panels.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known to mount manually operated alarm devices and switches on walls or upright panels. The devices usually include a trip means such as a pull handle, push button, or rocker arm, mounted on a box-like body portion which extends outwardly from the wall or panel.

Commonly, such devices serve as fire alarms, wherein manual operation of the trip means sets off an audible alarm and/or a sprinkler system and/or a call to a fire station.

It has been experienced that the body and trip means, which extend outwardly from the plane of the wall, are often subjected to unintended collisions by carts, gurneys, furniture movements, and the like, damaging the alarm device and sometimes initiating unnecessary alarms, inflow of fire-fighting water, and/or responses from fire stations. At the least, the alarm device is out of order until repaired or replaced.

There is thus a need for a protector device adapted to shield the alarm from such collisions and consequent damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is therefore to provide such a protective device, the device serving to protect the alarm from inadvertent collisions.

With the above and other objects in view, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a protector for an alarm device, the protector comprising a shell for affixing to a supporting surface on which the alarm device is mounted, the shell comprising a flat rear surface defining a plane, walls extending forwardly from the rear surface to form a pocket, left and right side surfaces respectively extending outwardly from the rear surface plane and inwardly toward the pocket, upper and lower surfaces extending outwardly from the rear surface plane and inwardly toward the pocket, the rear surface, side surfaces, and upper and lower surfaces and walls being adapted to extend from the supporting surface a distance substantially equal to the extent of the alarm device from the supporting surface, and the rear surface having an aperture therein for receiving the alarm device, wherein the side surfaces slant so as to protect the alarm device from collision, as by a vehicle or person.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided a protector for an alarm device, the protector comprising a shell for affixing to a supporting surface on which the alarm device is mounted, the shell comprising a flat rear surface, walls extending forwardly from the rear surface to form a pocket, left and right side surfaces respectively extending outwardly from a plane defined by front edges of the walls, the side surfaces being slanted rearwardly of the front edges of the walls, the flat rear surface having an aperture therein for receiving the alarm device, and upper and lower surfaces extending forwardly from a plane of the flat rear surface and interconnecting the side surfaces.

In accordance with a still further feature of the invention, there is provided a manual alarm pull station protector assembly comprising a side shell for affixing to a supporting surface on which an alarm device is mounted, the side shell having a side wall adapted to extend outwardly from and generally normal to the supporting surface, a protective slanting wall extending from an outer edge of the side wall substantially sidewise and rearwardly to the supporting surface, and upper and lower surfaces.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which are shown illustrative embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front generally elevational view of a fire alarm activation device, such as a pull station, known in the art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 shown in combination with a protector device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the protector of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the protector of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a back elevational view of the protector of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a further perspective view of the protector;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing an alternative embodiment of protector;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the protector of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a back elevational view of the protector of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of protector;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a further alternative embodiment of protector;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of a further alternative embodiment of protector, similar to that of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the protectors of FIGS. 11 and 12 used in combination with each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3-6, it will be seen that the illustrative alarm protector 2 comprises a shell which is adapted to surround an emergency switch S, and that side walls 4, 6 of the protector slant outwardly and rearwardly from the face of the switch to deflect any body colliding with the protector, and guide such body away from of the switch.

The shell device of FIGS. 2-4 defines a pocket 8 defined by walls 9, 11, 14 and 15, and having a back wall 10 with an opening 12 therethrough for receiving the switch S (FIG. 2) to be protected.

A shell top wall 17 and a shell bottom wall 19 interconnect with side walls 4, 6 and extend outwardly from the switch supporting pocket structure.

FIGS. 7-10 are similar to FIGS. 3-6 but illustrate an alternative embodiment of protective shell in which there is provided a recess 16 in at least one of the side walls 4,6 to enable a key (not shown) to be applied to a switch lock 18 (FIG. 1)

Referring to FIGS. 11-13, it will be seen that there may be provided discrete side shell devices 20, 22 not connected to each other. Each of the side pieces 20, 22 includes a slanted wall 4′, 6′ and a top wall 24 and bottom wall 26. The embodiment of FIGS. 11-13 comprises the left and right protection devices 20′, 22′ for mounting along either side, or both sides, of the switch box. Thus, if a collision threat is essentially limited to one side of the switch device, only one side need be used. Each of the protection devices 20′, 22′ comprises a side shell for affixing to a supporting surface on which an alarm device is mounted, the side shell having a side wall 27 for extending outwardly from and generally normal to the supporting surface, a protective slanting wall 4′, 6′ extending from an edge of the side wall, substantially sidewise and rearwardly to the supporting surface, and upper and lower surfaces 24, 26.

There is thus provided a protector for wall mounted switches, alarm pulls, and the like, the protector being configured to fend off in a glancing manner persons or objects which collide with the protector from a side thereof.

It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention. 

1. A protector for an alarm device, the protector comprising a shell for affixing to a supporting surface on which the alarm device is mounted, the shell comprising: a flat rear surface defining a plane; walls extending forwardly from said rear surface to form a pocket; left and right side surfaces respectively extending outwardly from the rear surface plane and inwardly toward the pocket; upper and lower shell surfaces extending outwardly from the rear surface plane and inwardly toward the pocket; said rear surface, side surfaces, and upper and lower shell surfaces, and pocket walls being adapted to extend from the supporting surface a distance substantially equal to the extension of the alarm device from the supporting surface; said rear surface having an aperture therein for receiving the alarm device; wherein the shell side surfaces slant so as to protect the alarm device from collision, as by a vehicle or person.
 2. The protector for an alarm device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said side surfaces extend outwardly from the pocket for equal distances.
 3. The protector for an alarm device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the left and right side shell surfaces and one of the pocket side walls is provided with a slot to permit passage of a key therethrough.
 4. A protector for an alarm device, the protector comprising a shell for affixing to a supporting surface on which the alarm device is mounted, the shell comprising: a flat rear surface; walls extending forwardly from said rear surface to form a pocket; left and right side shell surfaces respectively extending outwardly from a plane defined by front edges of said pocket walls, said side shell surfaces being slanted rearwardly of front edges of said pocket walls; said flat rear surface having an aperture therein for receiving the alarm device; and upper and lower shell surfaces extending forwardly from a plane of said flat rear surface and interconnecting said shell side surfaces.
 5. A manual alarm pull station protector assembly comprising a side shell for affixing to a supporting surface on which an alarm device is mounted, the side shell having a side wall adapted to extend outwardly from and generally normal to the supporting surface, a protective slanting wall extending from an outer edge of the side wall substantially sidewise and rearwardly to the supporting surface, and upper and lower surfaces at either end of said side shell, extending from said side shell to the supporting surface. 